(CNN) - Republican Sen. Rand Paul returned half a million dollars from his office budget to the Treasury Department on Thursday, offering a relatively small chunk of cash to help pay off the massive federal debt, which totals more than $15 trillion.

Unveiling a check made out to "The U.S. Taxpayer" at an event in Louisville, the Kentucky senator said he hopes other members of Congress would follow his cost-cutting measures.

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"If every senator did the same and every congressman did the same, it would be about $130 million. And we've got to start somewhere," Paul said.

The $500,000 contribution amounted to about 16% of the freshman senator's $3 million annual budget.

Not sure if this is the right forum for this or not, my apologies if it isn't. Some will say it's a "political move" so I guess it applies to this section's description.